Rainfall, humidity, a problem for ballots
All the recent rain, and the accompanying humidity, are causing a pain for an unknown number — apparently small — of people who are planning to vote by mail in the Aug. 18 primaries and nonpartisan elections.
Some voters in Broward County have found their ballots are showing up with the return envelopes stuck closed.
So far, state records show, Broward has sent out more than 361,000 mail ballots for the upcoming election and Palm Beach County has sent out more than 309,000, and Steve Vancore, spokesman for Broward Supervisor of Elections Peter Antonacci, confirmed what some voters are reporting.
“There have been a small number of complaints,” Vancore said by text. It’s common for vote-bymail return envelopes, especially depending on weather.
“More rain/humidity, the worse it gets.”
These aren’t just any old envelopes. They include the place where people need to sign so that when the ballots arrive back at the elections office, they can be compared with voters’ signatures on file.
Besides cursing or groaning, voters who have the problem have a couple of options.
Vancore said they can call the elections office to request a substitute ballot. Or they can tear the
envelope open, then tape it shut with the ballot inside once they’ve made their choice.
Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link said she hasn’t heard of a similar problem in her county. But she said the same advice would apply: Call for a replacement, or tear open and tape shut the envelope.
Two other vote-by-mail warnings: The signature is required. And the completed mail ballot must be back at the Supervisor of Elections Office by 7 p.m. on Aug. 18. Postmarks don’t count. Aug. 8 is the deadline to apply for a mail ballot. In Broward go online to browardsoe.org or call 954-357-7050.
In Palm Beach County go online to pbcelections.org or call 561-656-6200.